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Authorities Share A Warning About Young People's Instagram Activity

DENVER (CBS4) - There's Facebook, there's Twitter and now there's Instagram. It's one of the hottest social media sites based on photo sharing.

But Instagram isn't all fun and Photoshop. In fact, it has authorities on high alert. The Jefferson County District Attorney's office says sexual predators can often be found on the site.

If you don't know about this app, basically it allows people to take pictures. People can then upload them to the site for friends and followers to comment on.

Mike Harris, a detective with the DA's office, says sexual predators sometime can get access and comment on the pictures, and some of the comments are graphic and inappropriate.

"The problem is when you post these pictures you have got to ask yourself the question 'Who has access to them, and what type of people are accessing these pictures and for what reasons? " Harris said.

When users sign up, they are asked to give their name and cellphone number. That information then becomes public, and predators can use it to contact kids. Harris says that usually happens with text messages.

Authorities advise that when signing up for online services, try not to use your real name and don't give out personal information like addresses and phone numbers.

Also, carefully set privacy settings.

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